Trimaran with sprung center hull section



United States Patent [72] Inventor John V. Yost 2233 Riverside Drive, Trenton, Michigan 48183 [2]] Appl. No. 735,079 1 Filed a et?! .96

Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 604,763, Dec. 27, 1966, now Pat. No. 3,401,663, Sept. 17, 1968, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 519,618, Jan. 10, 1966, now Pat. No. 3,326,166, June 20, 1967. [45] Patented Sept. 15, 1970 [54] TRIMARAN WlTl-l SPRUNG CENTER HULL SECTION 10 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 1l4/66.5 [51] Int. Cl B63b H18 [50] Field ofSearch 114/123,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,486,606 3/1924 Pimpinella 1 14/123 1,738,979 12/1929 Adelmann 114/61 3,002,484 10/1961 Dube 3,026,841 3/1962 Pender Primary Examiner-Andrew H. Farrell Att0rneysClarence A. OBrien and Harvey B. Jacobson posing portions of the center hu l1 member for rotation about.

horizontal longitudinal axes, there being means provided and interconnected between the center hull member and the opposite side hull members defining limits of downward movement of the side hull members relative to the center hull member and yieldingly urging the side hull members toward their lowermost positions and'also flexible spray shield and.

planing surface panel members secured between the innermost marginal edge portions of the planing surfaces of the side hull members and the adjacent outer marginal edge portions of the center hull member,

Patented Sept. 15, 1970 Sheet John V. Yosf INVENTOR.

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TRIMARAN WITH SPRUNG CENTER l-IULL SECTION This application comprises a continuation-in-part of my copending application Ser. No. 604,763, filed Dec. 27, 1966, for Catamaran Boat Construction With Center Spray Shield (now U.S. Pat. No. 3,401,663, dated Sept. 17, 1968) which was in turn a continuation-in-part of my prior application Ser. No. 519,6l8, filed Jan. 10, I966, for Boat Construction, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,326,166, dated June 20, 1967.

The boat construction of the instant invention includes planing surfaces similar to thoseof a generally flat-bottomed boat with a slightly V-shaped central portion when lightly loaded and automatically transformed into planing surfaces similar to those found on deep-V-bottomed boats when more heavily loaded. In addition, the boat construction includes opposite side longitudinally extending planing surface portions which may yield upwardly relative to the central planing surfaces of the boat construction under impact with a chop or wake.

The boat construction of the instant invention therefore includes bottom planing surface portions which automatically compensate for the load being carried and the type of water over which the load is being moved.

The main object of this invention is to provide a boat construction including planing surface means movable and springmounted relative to each other whereby the major portion of the impact of the boat construction with chops and wakes may be absorbed without transmission of such shocks to the passenger carrying portion of the boat construction.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a boat construction in accordance with the preceding object and which will be operative to define a generally flat bottom planing surface when the boat construction is lightly loaded and moving over smooth water and yet automatically transformed into V-bottomed boat construction when heavily loaded.

Yet another object of this invention, in accordance with the immediately preceding object, is to provide a boat construction including opposite side planing surface defining portions which are spring-mounted and which will therefore yield under impact with chops and wakes so as to reduce the amount of impact transmitted to the passenger carrying portion of the boat construction.

A final object of this invention to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a boat construction in accordance with the preceding objects which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to use so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble-free in operation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a bottom plan view of the boat construction of the instant invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the boat construction with portions thereof being broken away to more clearly illustrate some of the structural details thereof;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the boat construction with its opposite side hull members disposed in their lowermost positions whereby a generally flat-bottomed boat is formed;

FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view of the boat construction with the opposite hull members swung upwardly and inwardly as though the boat construction was moving over the surface of the body of water with a heavy load;

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the boat construction with the opposite side hull members in their lowermost positions as illustrated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of the boat construction with the side hull member on the left of FIG. 6 swung upwardly and inwardly to its uppermost limit position and the forward end of the side hull member at the right of stant invention. The boat construction 10 includes a main load III or passenger carrying section generally referred to by the reference numeral 12 and the latter includes a center depending and longitudinally extending hull member referred to in .general by the reference numeral 14. The passenger carrying section 12 opens upwardly for receiving passengers and includes outer opposite side surfaces 16 and 18 and opposite side longitudinally extending generally horizontal downwardly facing undersurfaces 20 and 22 which curve smoothly upwardly at their forward ends as at 24. The center hull member 14 depends downwardly between the undersurfaces 20 and 22 and includes opposite side surfaces 26 and 28 which curve smoothly toward each other as at 30 and join at the forward end of the hull construction 10 to form a bow apex as at 32. The center hull member 14 includes opposite side upwardly and outwardly inclined longitudinally extending planing surfaces 34 and 36 and the forward ends of the surfaces 34 and 36 curve smoothly upwardly as at 38 and terminate forwardly as at 32.

The surfaces 20 and 26 and 22 and 28 define longitudinally extending downwardly and outwardly opening recesses on opposite sides of the center hull member 14 and a pair of opposite side hull members 40 and 42 are disposed in these recesses. The hull members 40 and 42 are each generally rectangular in cross-sectional shape and include opposite side surfaces 44 and 46 which curve inwardly at their forward ends to form a how 48. In addition, each of the hull members 40 and 42 includes a bottom surface 50 which curves slightly upwardly at its forward end for intersection with the upper surface 52 of the corresponding hull member as at 54.

The passenger carrying section 12 defines a pair of upstanding opposite side downwardly opening wells 56 which open downwardly through the surfaces 20 and 22. A pair of coil spring and shock absorber assemblies 58 having internal variably inflatable air bags (not shown) therein have their upper ends pivotally secured in the upper ends of the wells 56 for limited oscillation about horizontal longitudinal axes.

The cylinder portion ends of the shock absorber assemblies 58 are those ends secured in the upper ends of the wells 56 and the lower free piston rod portion ends of the shock absorber assemblies 58 are pivotally secured between a pair of apertured mounting flanges 66 of a mounting bracket referred to in general by the reference numeral 68 and secured to the corresponding side hull member with fasteners 70 by means of pivot fasteners 72 and resilient sleeve members 74 through which the pivot fasteners 72 extend. Thus, it may be seen that the side hull members 40 and 42 may be slightly oscillated about longitudinally extending axes relative to the lower piston rod end portions of the shock absorber assemblies 58.

A second pair of shock absorber assemblies 58 have their upper cylinder portions pivotally secured to stub shafts 76 carried by mounting brackets 78 secured to opposite side portions of the upper marginal portion of the transom 80 of the passenger carrying section 12 by means of suitable fasteners 82 and the lower piston rod portions of the second pair of shock absorber assemblies 58 are pivotally secured to stub shaft portions 76 of a second pair of mounting brackets 78 secured to the rear ends of the opposite side hull members 40 and 42. Of course, the upper and lower ends of the second pair of shock absorber assemblies 58 also include resilient sleeves 74. Thus, the side hull members may not only oscillate slightly relative to the center hull members about longitudinal axes defined by the pairs of corresponding fasteners 72 and stub shaft portions 76, but also about generally horizontal transverse axes disposed adjacent the rear ends of the side hull members upon slight angular displacement of the fasteners 72 and shaft portions 76 relative to the corresponding sleeve members 74.

A pair of front and rear radius arms 84 and 86 extend between each side surface of the center hull member 14 and the adjacent side of the corresponding side hull member. Each radius arm 84 has its inner end universally secured to the corresponding side of the center hull member 14 as at 88 and its outer end universally secured to the corresponding hull member as at 90. In addition, the inner end of each radius arm 86 is universally secured to the corresponding side of the center hull member 14 as at 92 and its outer end fixedly secured to the corresponding hull member as at 94, 96 and 98.

The axes of oscillation of the inner ends of each pair of corresponding radius arms 84 and 86 are aligned and each of the radius arms 84 is streamlined in cross-sectional shape as at 100, see FIG. 2. Further, an elongated flexible spray shield 102 extends between and is secured to the lower marginal edge portions of the opposite sides of the center hull member 14 and the adjacent lower marginal edge portions of the inner sides of the corresponding hull members 40 and 42. The forward end portions of the spray shields 102 are secured to the radius arms 84 and accordingly, the flexible spray shields 102 are pulled through the water by the radius arms 84.

The outer lower corners of the opposite side hull members are rounded as at 106 and 108 and it may be observed from the drawings that the undersurface portions of the hull members 40 and 42 are substantially flat.

In operation, when the hull construction 10 is at rest or traveling at speed over smooth water, the hull members 40 and 42 are positioned as illustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawings whereby the hull construction lis provided with a substantially flat planing surface except for the slightly V-shaped center portion thereof defined by the surfaces 34 and 36. FIG. 5 also illustrates the relative positions of the center hull member 14 and the opposite side hull members 40 and 42 when the hull construction is at rest or moving over smooth water.

In FIG. 4 of the drawings it may be seen that the hull members 40 and 42 have been swung upwardly and inwardly toward their upper limit positions of movement and the hull members 40 and 42 assume this position when the hull construction 10 is moving over the water under a heavy load and also when larger chops or wakes are encountered. Thus, the opposite side hull members 40 and 42 swing upwardly to absorb the shock of chops and wakes as they are encountered.

In FIG. 6 of the drawings the hull member 42 is positioned as though the hull construction 10 was moving under a load and the hull member 40 is positioned as though the front end thereof has recoiled upwardly, independent of upward swinging movement of the rear end of the hull member 40, under impact with a small chop. Accordingly, it may be seen that the hull members 40 and 42 may swing upwardly at their forward ends as small chops are encountered. Relative angulation between the rear ends of the hull members 40 and 42 is made possible by means of the resilient sleeves 74 through which the stub shafts 76 extend and relative to which the stub shafts 76 may be angularly displaced. Therefore, it may be seen that the hull members 40 and 42 are also supported from the passenger carrying section 12 for extremely limited oscillation about horizontal transverse axes.

As the hull construction 10 encounters a chop, the forward ends of the hull members 40 and 42 may be swung upwardly independent of upward swinging movement of their rear ends. If the chop is larger than only a small chop or if the hull construction 10 is moving at a high rate of speed, the rear ends of the hull members 40 and 42 will swing upwardly to further absorb the shock of the hull construction 10 impacting with the chop. However, if the chop is small, only the forward ends of the hull members 40 and 42 will swing upwardly.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

Iclaim:

1. A hull construction including a center longitudinally extending hull section having planing undersurface portions, a pair of opposite side longitudinal members spaced laterally outwardly from said undersurface portions and including planing undersurfaces, means supporting said longitudinal members from said center hull section for up and down swinging movement of the forward ends of said longitudinal members relative to said center hull section about generally horizontal axes extending transversely of and adjacent the rear ends of said longitudinal members between upper and lower limit positions as well as limited vertical shifting of said axis relative to said center hull section, and means connected between said center hull section and said longitudinal members yieldingly urging the forward ends of said longitudinal members toward their lower limit positions and said axes toward their lower limit positions, generally planar spray shield means extending between and secured to the portions of said center hull section and said longitudinal members defining the opposite side marginal edge. portions of said planing undersurface portions and the adjacent marginal edge portions of said planing undersurfaces, said spray shield means including lower planing surfaces disposed between said planing undersurfaces and surface portions.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said means supporting said longitudinal members from said center hull section include means also supporting said longitudinal members for swinging movement about horizontal longitudinal axes adjacent and generally paralleling the remote side marginal edge portions of said undersurface between upper and lower limit positions, said means connected between said center section and said longitudinal members also serving to urge the latter toward the last-mentioned limit position.

3. A hull construction including an elongated longitudinally extending central portion defining upwardly divergent opposite side stationarily disposed and downwardly facing planing undersurface portions, said hull construction further ineluding members defining opposite side downwardly facing planing undersurfaces extending along and projecting outwardly from the remote marginal edge portions of said undersurface portions, means supporting said members from said central portion for oscillation about axes extending longitudinally of said central portion between first positions with said undersurfaces generally horizontally disposed and projecting outwardly from said remote marginal edge portions and second positions with said undersurfaces upwardly and outwardly divergent forming extensions of and generally coplanar with said planing undersurface portions, and means connected between said members and said central portion yieldingly urg ing said members toward said first positions.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said means supporting said members from said central portion also includes means supporting said members for oscillation, from said first positions, about horizontal transverse axes extending transversely of one set of corresponding ends of said members to third positions with the other set of ends of said members upwardly displaced relative to said central portion, said means connected between said members and said central portion also serving to yieldingly urge said members from said third positions toward said first positions.

5. The combination of claim 3 wherein said longitudinal members are buoyant.

6. The combination of claim 3 wherein said center hull section includes means adapted to support a marine propulsion assembly.

7. A hull construction including a center longitudinally extending hull section having planing undersurface portions, a pair of opposite side longitudinal members spaced laterally outwardly from said undersurface portions and including planing undersurfaces, means supporting said longitudinal members from said center hull section for up and down swinging movement of the forward ends of said longitudinal members relative to said center hull section about generally horizontal axes extending transversely of and adjacent the rear ends of said longitudinal members between upper and lower limit positions as well as limited vertical shifting of said axis relative to said center hull section, and means connected between said center hull section and said longitudinal members yieldingly urging the forward ends of said longitudinal members toward their lower limit positions and said axes tdward their lower limit positions, said center hull section defining longitudinally extending downwardly and outwardly opening recesses disposed outwardly of and above said planing undersurface portions, said longitudinal members being disposed in said recesses.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said means supporting said longitudinal members from said center hull section include means also supporting said longitudinal members for swinging movement about horizontal longitudinal axes adjacent and generally paralleling the remote side marginal edge portions of said undersurface between upper and lower limit positions, said means connected between said center section and said longitudinal members also serving to urge the latter toward the last-mentioned limit position.

9. A hull construction including a center longitudinally extending hull section having planing undersurface portions, a pair of opposite side longitudinal members spaced laterally outwardly from said undersurface portions and including planing undersurfaces, means supporting said longitudinal members from said center hull section for up and down swinging movement of the forward ends of said longitudinal members relative to said center hull section about generally horizontal axes extending transversely of and adjacent the rear ends of said longitudinal members between upper and lower limit positions as well as limited vertical shifting of said axis relative to said center hull section, and means connected between said center hull section and said longitudinal members yieldingly urging the forward ends of said longitudinal members toward their lower limit positions and said axes toward their lower limit positions, said means supporting saidlongitudinal members from said center hull section including from and generally horizontal radius arms extending between each longitudinal member and the corresponding side of the center hull section, the inner and outer ends of the front radius arms being universally connected to said longitudinal members and said center hull section, the outer ends of said rear radius arms being fixedly secured to said longitudinal members and the inner ends of said rear radius members being pivotally secured to said center hull member for oscillation about generally horizontal longitudinally extending axes.

10. The combination of claim 9 including generally planar spray shield means extending between and secured to the portions of said center hull section and said longitudinal members defining the opposite side marginal edge portions of said planing undersurface portions and the adjacent marginal edge portions of said planing undersurfaces, said spray shield means including lower planing surfaces disposed between said planing undersurfaces and surface portions, said spray shield means extending beneath said rear radius arms and the forward edge portions of said spray shield means being secured to the front radius arms. 

